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mello mike · 12-03-2010, 02:52 PM

I'm starting this thread so we can document our favorite military campgrounds and RV Parks. I've never stayed at one, but have seen many up close. As retired Navy, I'd like to start using this benefit. There are some beautiful campgrounds and RV Parks out here in the West, plus they're very reasonable, especially in what is very expensive California. At the very least, you can use these as a dump site, if one is closeby.

Here are a few informative links to what's available.

Military Travel Center - military_campgrounds

U.S. Military Recreation Facilities

Please post pics and tell us what you really liked about the park you stayed at.

Thanks, and thank you for your service.

Mike

DCtraveler · 12-03-2010, 04:46 PM

We've only been to two, but it has to be hard to beat Naval Air Station Key West. Great location, great people, and a great price....!

Thanks for your service!

DC

Safari64 · 12-03-2010, 05:33 PM

Black Spruce Campground, Fort Richardson, US Army Garrison Alaska.

You can see Sarah's backyard from here.

Thanks for starting this thread.

easyride · 12-03-2010, 05:41 PM

I looked at the site,it seems as many of them say DOD employees only.Does that mean DMV doesn`t qualify ? Dave

Lance M · 12-03-2010, 05:58 PM

Mello Mike,
Great thread. Thanks. I was searching for this very kind of list last week.
DC,
We stayed at the Navy lodge right next to the RV park in '06 before we became Campers. It is a wonderful place to stay and watch the sunrise and sunset.
The Army travel camp at Ft Sam Houston is a great place to "winter". It was full when I went through there this week.

n2916s · 12-03-2010, 06:57 PM

The famcamp at Patrick AFB is great -- right on the Banana River.
Desert Eagle RV Park at Nellis in Las Vegas is pretty much the fanciest we've stayed at.
Eagle Hammock RV Park at the King's Bay Sub Base in Georgia is relatively new and well-managed.

To be honest with you, we have never stayed at a military rv park that we didn't like -- some are a little dated and some could use some tlc but the price is always right and a handy commissary and/or class six is always welcome...

mike

n2916s · 12-03-2010, 07:03 PM

Oh, and I forgot the Oak Grove RV Park at Pensacola NAS. About 100 yards from the beach, a mile from the Museum of Naval Aviation and, if you are there in April, the Blue Angels practice almost every weekday and you can watch from the museum (bleachers provided) for free...

mike

Klatawa · 12-03-2010, 07:16 PM

Pac Beach on the Washington coast. Nice campground on the bluff, resturant, and cabins to rent.

mopariac · 12-03-2010, 07:20 PM

The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs was great fun with the deer, turkey, and squirrels. Especially the aggressive black fox squirrels because we were there after Christmas and got 4 pound cans of California almonds and got tired of them after about a pound so we fed the squirrels by hand. They climbed up on our shoulders waiting their turn. But when the black fox squirrel came...all the ground squirrels ran for cover. The black squirrels were so aggressive they would fight us for the can...anyway...it was the best military rv campground we have been to.

Nuvite-F · 12-03-2010, 07:57 PM

Here's some pictures from an Airstream rally a few years ago at Pine View Campground, Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin.

Pine View Recreation Area

As you can see from the pics the "pine view" is right. RV spaces are in thick pine woods--very nice. Good facilities, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, rest rooms, etc. I do note on the web site that recent reviews have been pretty negative so may have gone downhill since we were there.

There are a couple of unique things about this campground that you might want to warn civilian guests about in advance.

On the way in--on the state highway!--are signs "Caution--Artillery Firing Over Road". Not sure what you're supposed to do--duck?

Ft. McCoy being an active Army training base, you get First Call, Reveille, Taps, the whole bit, broadcast over speakers in the CG. (Great to be able to wake up to Reveille then roll over and go back to sleep.)

Some days they have live fire artillery, far enough from the CG that it's not too loud.

Be sure and visit the restored Ft. McCoy WW II barracks and museum if you get the chance. (They're not always open.)
.

DCtraveler · 12-03-2010, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb379_2010

DC,
We stayed at the Navy lodge right next to the RV park in '06 before we became Campers. It is a wonderful place to stay and watch the sunrise and sunset.
The Army travel camp at Ft Sam Houston is a great place to "winter". It was full when I went through there this week.

Lance,

Funny you bring up the Fort Sam Houston park, as that is the only other Military RV Park we've been to. We were actually just there for the Thanksgiving weekend....were we there at the same time by chance??

Mello Mike, thanks for starting this thread!

DC

Lothlorian · 12-04-2010, 05:41 AM

Mellow Mike:

You have me thinking about these parks. I never served in the military and I was wondering if you have to be a veteran to use these parks?

These look like great places to visit. The Military should give free camping to potential new recruits. Kind of like doing the time share visit. You get a vacation if you listen to what they have to offer.

Great Thread!

Brian

mello mike · 12-04-2010, 05:46 AM

These are great, guys. Keep it up. Please remember to post pics (if you have them). It certainly helps us visualize what you like about that particular campground/RV park.

DC, I've heard a lot of good things about that park in Key West. Looks fantastic.

I've heard some nice things about Pac Beach too. Didn't know the USAFA had an RV Park. Sweeet!

Brian, my understanding is that you have to be active duty, retired military, or a DOD employee to use these facilities. Most are located on active military bases, so you'll need an ID card to get past security.

**azflycaster** · 12-04-2010, 06:15 AM

As a vet, I am not eligible to use these facilities, but last year a friend (retired military) was able to get me a spot at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as his guest. The park is in a great location with excellent sites and reasonably priced.

Lance M · 12-04-2010, 06:24 AM

Ft Hood's Belting Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA) has three different campsights with hookups. It is on the military reservation but is open to the public. It is on the south shore of lake Belting in central Texas about 15 miles West of I-35. In summer the beach with lifeguards and a waterslide are open. They have paddle boat and bass boat rentals as well. There are some mountain biking and hiking trails nearby. I highly recommended it.

mello mike · 12-04-2010, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

As a vet, I am not eligible to use these facilities, but last year a friend (retired military) was able to get me a spot at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as his guest. The park is in a great location with excellent sites and reasonably priced.

Richard, that campground at the USAFA looks great.

Yeah, I should have mentioned about guests. Most bases allow you to sign in non-military/DOD as guests.

doorgunner · 12-04-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCtraveler

We've only been to two, but it has to be hard to beat Naval Air Station Key West. Great location, great people, and a great price....!

Thanks for your service!

DC

this is a great location, the sites are close to oneanother but hey, Duvall pubs are close by as is the "Schooner Wharf ".
and the small commissary was voted numba one recently.not to mention the great deals at all the local events thru MWR.
The beach at the airfield a few miles north is a treat, just gotta love the F-18's flyin by..
There's some nice places out here on the left coast also,
Semper Fi.

Ike T · 12-04-2010, 05:00 PM

We stayed at the RV site at Camp San Luis Obispo over Thanksgiving. This is a California Army National Guard base, and the place was empty and quiet. Literally, besides the 4 other campers the base was deserted.

Each site has water, sewer, and 20/30/50 Amp electric service, but all sites are dirt and the ground becomes slick in the rain and after overnight grass watering.

10 minutes to San Luis Obispo, 10 minutes to Morro Bay, and 20 minutes to Pismo Beach. You can't beat the location or price ($23/night). There are laundry facilities, a very small exchange (call it a store), and post office. In another section of the base, there is a dining facility that you are authorized to eat in when it's open.

dkottum · 12-04-2010, 10:46 PM

Here we are at Davis-Monthan in Tucson . . .

Doug and Cheryl
Both Retired Navy

JBinKC · 12-05-2010, 04:56 AM

Fort Leonard Wood’s Lake of the Ozarks Recreation Area (LORA) near Linn Creek, MO! It’s the definition of remote and quiet but they have every conceivable amenity, including every water toy known to man, brand new pads with full hookups, and beautiful cabins on the amazing Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. Did I say remote? http://www.fortleonardwoodmwr.com/lake_ozarks.php